Page 37 - InterPilot 2018, Issue 4

PAGE 36 PAGE 37

Founding MAs: “...the most important safety assets on

any airliner, cargo or passenger, are
ALPA-I adequately rested, fully qualified, and

well-trained pilots.“

AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL (UNITED STATES)

BY CAPTAIN TIM CANOLL fter the International In the early days of flight, working as
PRESDIENT Civil aviation organiza- an airline pilot in any region of the
tion (ICao) was found- world was dangerous. For example,
aed in 1947 as the global more than half of ALPA’s founders
forum for civil aviation, the air died in airline accidents despite being
line pilots association, Interna- outstanding aviators. This tragic back-
tional (alpa) and 12 other pilot ground not only meant that “Schedule
organizations immediately rec- with Safety” became ALPA’s founding
ognized the need to establish motto, it led to our position that the
formal representation for pilots most important safety assets on any
before the united nations body. airliner, cargo or passenger, are ad-
a short time later, the world’s pi- equately rested, fully qualified, and
lots formed Ifalpa and the fed- well-trained pilots.
eration’s value as the global voice
of pilots has only increased in the This recognition of the dangers pres-
seven decades since. ent in the first years of our industry is
one reason that airline pilots across
the world fight so hard for safety.
From the beginning of commercial
flight, we’ve shared a commitment
across continents and beyond bor-
ders to ensuring the safest possible air
transportation system for our passen-
gers, cargo, and crews. First IFALPA Conference London, 1948

Through its participation at ICAO and For example, the collaboration that IFALPA has made process designed to identify every factor involved in
in many other international, national, possible in accident response, analysis, and preven- the accident with the goal of preventing a similar ac-
regional, and local venues, IFALPA tion showcases our mutual support and joint work to cident from ever happening again.
Member Associations have worked advance safety. Through the commitment of IFALPA
tirelessly to advance every aspect of Member Associations, we come together to assist our IFALPA has fostered a collaboration among pilots, to-
aviation safety. ALPA has contributed colleagues during increasingly rare incidents and ac- gether with the airlines, the regulators, and the aircraft
to the effort by supporting the Fed- cidents through Critical Incident Response Programs manufacturers, that has taken air travel and transporta-
eration’s Standing Committees and and other resources. tion to a new level of safety and an unparalleled safety
advisory groups with subject matter record. While work to advance safety is never com-
expertise and professional staff re- As the world’s largest nongovernmental aviation safety plete, without the Federation’s seventy years of safety
sources on issues ranging from pilot organization, ALPA has also worked with our IFALPA work, such a record would not be possible.
training and human performance to colleagues to contribute to the development of a prov-
runway and taxiway safety and air traf- en and internationally recognized accident investiga- While originally created to promote the safe and ef-
fic services. tion process centered on preventing future accidents. ficient development of civil aviation, ICAO’s strategic
Together, we have pressed the industry to reform the objectives have expanded in recent years—a develop-
focus of accident investigation away from naming a ment that makes it more important than ever that air-
single cause and toward conducting a safety-centered line pilots across the globe work together.